Jumping Saddles

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LGK1994

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So I’m looking for a jumping saddle for my Connie x TB. She is 15.2 and quite slight so want quite a neat tidy saddle. I’ve got a healthy budget so looking to heat what people think are the best!
 
One that fits! Get a saddlers out and get one properly fitted. Sadly regardless of which one you like the look of if it doesn't fit your horses shape it won't work for you.
 
hattie2525 said:
One that fits! Get a saddlers out and get one properly fitted. Sadly regardless of which one you like the look of if it doesn't fit your horses shape it won't work for you.
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i am getting a saddle fitter out however am wanting to know which saddles people think are comfortable what are well built. Which are hard wearing and last etc. I obviously understand it must fit however I am wanting advice on what’s out there and what people have had good experiences with.
 
You will get different advice from different people and all it will probably do is make you less sure if you do find one you like, I see a range of saddles and from experience will say you need to feel secure in it as well as it fitting the horse as having one that fits the horse but not the rider will do more harm than good for your riding, try over fences when the saddler comes out and stick with your own feelings do not be swayed by other people saying it looks good or it fits the horse well, if you are not comfortable do not buy.

Most English made saddles are well made, good quality leather, should last many years, as will many made in Europe but the priority must be the fit for you both, try as many as you can and be prepared to wait if the perfect saddle is not there.
 
Mine is a Childeric and very neat and tidy. Happily, I got it secondhand (but it looked line new) and it was half price.

I have, in the past, also had a Butet. Again, neat and tidy.

It depends on what you like though, not everyone likes a close contact mono flap.
 
Red-1 said:
Mine is a Childeric and very neat and tidy. Happily, I got it secondhand (but it looked line new) and it was half price.

I have, in the past, also had a Butet. Again, neat and tidy.

It depends on what you like though, not everyone likes a close contact mono flap.
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I’ve personally not ridden in a Monoflap so will be interesting to try and see how I feel!
 
My jump saddles are at the cheaper end however last week I rode for the first time in a monoflap and it was a Childeric. Incredibly comfortable and felt very secure but when I got home and looked it up £4,500 is way out of my budget!
 
I got a new Albion k2 and I love it. I didn’t want a mono flap and of the 4 saddler showed me I immediately liked the Albion. I already had a dressage slk. I dont jump but it is ideal for hacking out and sitting his spooks!
 
Had an Amerigo monoflap and loved it but sadly my boy no longer fit it otherwise I’d have one again. Got a Black Country after and it was okay but not as good. Just swapped out for a Devoucoux and love it. It’s so comfy even though I’m doing some dressage in a jumping saddle.
 
Wait till you see what fits the horse (Connies are tricky to fit, I fit a lot of them) and what you like, I was sold a K2 before I knew what I liked in a jump saddle and hated it once I'd ridden in it a few times, I prefer a more minimal saddle but looking neat, which my next saddle did, wasn't anywhere near as important as being the right fit (I know it's obvious but it's always worth repeating). I would warn against many fashionable brand jump saddles especially the continental brands, they virtually all have narrow rails and twists which in general aren't that good for the horse, especially wider ones. Monoflaps also reduce fitting options going forwards - you can't usually change which girth straps you use as they only have two, and the fitter can't get flocking down below the points which can be really useful on all sorts of shapes of horses.

https://srt2018.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/SRT-18-10.pdf
 
Will the saddle only be used for jumping?
I wanted a jumping and a dressage saddle for my new horse. I bought the jumping saddle first because I found out last time round that you can do flatwork in a jump saddle but it's very difficult to jump in a dressage saddle (particularly ones with external blocks).
When shopping this time round I tried an Albion K2 and a Loxley jump.
I liked both and the K2 kept me very secure because it was more blocky than the Loxley, however it would have been impossible to put my stirrups down and ride flatwork in it. So I bought the Loxley which I'm happy with as a jump saddle (a bit more minimal than the K2, but I still feel safe and secure) and I can also ride long in it.
 
As someone has said get a saddle that fits. In an ideal world you would be able to buy the saddle you really like & it would fit your horse but in reality it doesn't seem to work like that. A good saddle fitter would take a look atr your horse & instantly be able to rule out some saddles that would not be suitable for your horse. I had it happen to us. We had a jumping saddle fitted, different than the one we really wanted but it does the job well And it fits our hrse.
 
I have a Harry Dabs Future Jump saddle - The panel at the front of the saddle is set back to sit behind the shoulder, I noticed a real difference as my horse used to "droop" his front legs over a fence but in this saddle tends to actually pick his legs up, it seems to allow much more free movement.

I tried one out for a week to make sure it fit, then bought new and chose my own seat & thread colours etc, it cost £1600.

I love it....Shame my horse is lame and probably won't jump again. My saddler has recomemnded I keep it though as it's very adjustable and may even fit my next horse whenever I get one!
 
Left field one for you - go and have a look at the Peter Horobin saddles, specifically the Stridefree. Not cheap but their innovation on the tree shape has vastly improved my horses way of jumping and my balance.

They are beautiful looking as well made with high quality leather And workmanship.

After I bought it a mate tried it on her 14.1hh short backed barrel of a Connie with the statement of “don’t know why I’m trying this as I would not spend this much on a saddle”. Guess what? She has bought one now as well.

Price wise they are at the high end but no different to an Albion or similar.

Previously I had a Pessoa which is mid range price bracket. Nice saddle but mass produced offshore. Did the job well for years.
 
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